And fair Rebecca leads a virtuous life-- She rules a mistress, and she reigns a wife. TALE IV. _PROCRASTINATION._ Heaven witness I have been to you [a true and humble wife.] _Henry VIII_. Act II. Scene 4. Gentle lady, When first I did impart my love to you, I freely told you all the wealth I had. _Merchant of Venice_, Act III. Scene 2. [The leisure and the fearful time] Cuts off [the ceremonious] vows of love, And ample interchange of sweet discourse, Which so long sunder’d friends should dwell upon. _Richard III_. Act V. Scene 3. I know thee not, old man; fall to thy prayers. 2 _Henry IV_. Act V. Scene 5. Farewell, Thou pure impiety [and] impious purity; For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love. _Much Ado about Nothing_, Act IV. Scene 1. TALE IV. _PROCRASTINATION._ Love will expire; the gay, the happy dream Will turn to scorn, indiff’rence, or esteem. Some favour’d pairs, in this exchange, are bless’d, Nor sigh for raptures in a state of rest; Others, ill match’d, with minds unpair’d, repent At once the deed, and know no more content; From joy to anguish they, in haste, decline, And with their fondness, their esteem resign. More luckless still their fate, who are the prey Of long-protracted hope and dull delay; 10 ’Mid plans of bliss the heavy hours pass on, Till love is wither’d, and till joy is gone. This gentle flame two youthful hearts possess’d, The sweet disturber of unenvied rest: The prudent Dinah was the maid beloved, And the kind Rupert was the swain approved. A wealthy aunt her gentle niece sustain’d, He, with a father, at his desk remain’d; The youthful couple, to their vows sincere, } Thus loved expectant; year succeeding year, } 20 With pleasant views and hopes, but not a prospect near. } Rupert some comfort in his station saw, But the poor virgin lived in dread and awe; Upon her anxious looks the widow smiled, And bade her wait, “for she was yet a child.” She for her neighbour had a due respect, Nor would his son encourage or reject; And thus the pair, with expectations vain, Beheld the seasons change and change again. Meantime the nymph her tender tales perused, 30 Where cruel aunts impatient girls refused; While hers, though teasing, boasted to be kind, And she, resenting, to be all resign’d. The dame was sick, and, when the youth applied For her consent, she groan’d, and cough’d, and cried; Talk’d of departing, and again her breath Drew hard, and cough’d, and talk’d again of death: “Here you may live, my Dinah! here the boy